Bitt



C. KULMAN May 26, 1925.

BITT

Fil ed May 13, 1924 Z INVENTOR BY WI d" ATI'ORNEYJ Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES KULMAN, OF- BROOKLYN, NETVYORK, ASSIGNOR 01F ONE-HALF T HAROLD F. OBRIEN, OFB-ROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BITT.

Application filed May 13, 1224.

Z 0 all iii/zomit may concern:

Be it known that T. Crminiris KULMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York have inventedfcertain new and useful Improvements in;Bitts. of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in nautical bitts. The main object of the invention is to provide a bitt which is not only simple and e'liicient in construction and operation but also one which has other important advantages as will more clearly appear from the detail description given below taken in connection With the accompanying d awings which torma part of this specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical face view of a bitt embodying my improvements in a preferred formthereo'f. Fig. 2 is a View taken at right angles to Fig. 1 and partly in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a different arrangement of parts.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2' and 3, 5 represents the deck of a scow or other boat to which the bitt is attached and 6 represents the rail running along the side of the boat. 7 represents a bitt which is in the form of a post like structure, circular-in cross-section at its upper end and provided with projecting or cleat members 8 whereby ropes, chains or cables are easily secured thereto. The bit-t 7 is preferably made of one integral piece of cast metal such as cast iron or steel, and the upper part: is preferably hollowed out as indicated at 9 in order to save metal and conduce to lightness. The lower portion of thebitt 7 is provided with a relatively large rectangular. opening extending therethrough having two vertical sides 10 and 1.1. This opening extendsupwardly from the bottom of the bitt 7; and on one sidell of the opening there are bolted journal brackets ormembers 12. and 13. These are secured tothe side 11 by. bolts 14 and 15 respectively. The side 11 is cut away as at 17 and 18 providing recessesin which part of the journal members 12 and 13 lie. Journaled in'the journal members 12 and'13 is the axle 19-of a Windlass having a. suitable drum 20-and ratchet- Wheel-21 secured to the axle 19. Journaledabout. the axle 19 between the ratchet wheel 21 and Serial No. 712,975.

tront of the bitt is a lever, member 22 havmg pivoted thereon at 23 a double pawl'j2 l having twoarms 25 and 26 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21. Pivotcd to the body portion of the bitt 7 at 2,7 is a locking dog 28 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21 to prevent the same and the drum 20 to which it is rigidly connected, from rotating backwardly.

The bitt 7 is provided with integral laterally extending vertical flanges 29 which are rigidly directly secured to the rail 6 by bolts 30. The bitt 7 is also provided with integral laterally extending horizontal flanges 31 which are rigidly and directly bolted to the deck 5 by means of bolts 82 whereby the bitt serves asa reinforcing sup port for the rail 5 since it holds the rail firmly in its proper upright position with respect to the deck. By being thus fastened both to the rail and the deck it strengthens the rail from being dislodged by, moving cargo or other means.

In operation when it is desired to haulfin a rope, cable or. the like, the same is given a few. turns about the drum 20 and then the lever 22 oscillated back. and forth whereby the pawl portion 25 will engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21 and cause the drum 20 to rotate step by step and thus haul in the rope, cable or the like in a manner well understood by those skilled in theart. The locking dog 28, as the drum is rotated, acts by gravity to drop into the teeth. of] the ratchet wheel 21 and prevent any back-- ward rotation of the drum in a manner well understood bythoseskilled in the art. The Windlass it will be noted, is ournaled on the inside of the bitt and on theside. of an opening extending into the inside of the bitt,- the journaled members 12 and 13 being removably secured on the inside; 11. of the bitt. To prevent the axle 19 from slipping out of the journal'members 11, I have indicated a setscrew operating in the journal member. 13,,the inner endof which screw isadaptedto operatively engage a groove in theaxle 19 and soprevent the axle from slipping out of; the journal members 12 and 13. In case it is desired to place the bit-t in a position where the windlassshould be operated from the opposite'side. this is easily done because of the removability and the adjustahility oi the parts. For this purpose the inside 10 of the bitt is provided with recesses 3 k and similar to the recesses 17 and 18 whereby the journal members 12 and 13 are easily un-' bolted from the side 11 and removed therefrom and bolted upon the side 10 in a similar position whereupon the axle of the windlass may be again inserted in the journal members and j ournaled on the inside of the windlass on the inside 10 thereof instead of on the. inside 11 thereof. In this position the lever 22 may be operated from the opposite side of the bitt and the pawl portion 26 will act to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21 instead of the pawl portion 25. In Fig. 1 the locking dog 28 is shown journaled about a screw which is screwed into a screw opening 36 in the body portion of the bitt. It is, therefore, easily removable and the bitt is provided with a. similar screw opening 37 on the opposite side whereby the locking dog may be removed and repositioned with the screw 27 screwed into the opening 37 so that the looking dog will take the position shown in Fig. -it to properly cooperate with the windlass when it is readjusted in the position shown in Fig. 4. The bitt is provided on its outer lower portion with integral strengthening webs 38.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided not only an exceptionally strong bitt and one which serves as a reinforcing support for the rail, but also one in which the windlass is journaled on the inside of the bitt. This eliminates all journal boxes or journal members which are ordinarily secured on the outside of the bitt and which, because of the corners and angles thereto, frequently catch the ropes or lines and cutthe same or otherwise interfere with proper operation of the apparatus. By journaling th windlass on the inside of the bitt the journal members 12 and 13 together with the bolts 1 1 and 15 are so positioned that they are inside of the bitt and will not be caught or engaged by the rope or cable being operated upon the windlass. The sides of the windlass, because of this, may be so constructed that there is nothing thereon which will catch the ropes or cables and cut them or otherwise interfere with the smooth and efficient operation of the apparatus. Furthermore because of the adjustability of the windlass from one side to the other of the inside. of the bitt, the bitt may be used with equal convenience on either side of a. scow or boat and in corners or in cargo space. The bitt, with the windlass and op erating leve, takes up a minimum amount of room and the journals 12 and 18 with the axle therein are substantially protected from rain water, sea water, dust, etc. which cause them to rust or produce undue wear. The bitt may be used without the windlass if desired. In such case the openings in the bit-t may be boarded or covered over to keep out sand and dirt.

While I have described my invention in great detail. and with respect to a preferred form thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such form or details since many changes and modifications may be made and the in vention embodied in widely different forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof in its broader aspects. I desire to cover all modifications and forms coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bitt comprising a metal post-like structure having an opening in the bottom portion thereof, and a windlass journaled in said opening, and means whereby said windlass may be j ournaled on either side of two opposite sides of said opening.

2. A bitt comprising a post-like structure having an opening in the lower part thereof, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a windlass journaled in said journal blocks.

3. A bitt comprising a post-like structure having an opening in the lower part thereof, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a windlass journaled in said journal blocks, said journal blocks being removable and adapted to be secured to either side of said opening.

4. A bitt comprising a post-like structure having an opening in the lower part thereof, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a windlass journaled in said journal blocks, said journal blocks being removable and adapted to be secured to either side of said opening, said windlass having a drum with ratchet teeth and a lever and pawl for operating the same, and a locking dog for the windlass pivoted on the body portion of the bitt.

5. A bitt comprising a post-like structure having an opening in the lower part thereof, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a Windlass journaled in said journal blocks, said journal blocks being removable and adapted to be secured to either side of said opening, said windlass having a drum with ratchet teeth and a lever and pawl for operating the same, and a locking dog for the windlass pivoted on the body portion of the bitt, said dog being removable and adapted to be pivotally mounted in different positions dependent on which position the windlass is journaled in.

6. A bitt comprising a post-like metal Structure having an aperture in the body portion thereof, a windlass j ournaled in said aperture, means for securing said structure directly to the deck and means for securing said structure directly to the rail whereby the bitt serves as a reinforcing support for the rail.

7. A bitt comprising a post-like metal structure having laterally extending horizontal flanges adapted to be bolted to the deck and laterally extending vertical flanges adapted to be bolted to the rail whereby the bitt serves as a reinforcing support for the rail and a Windlass carried by said bitt.

8. A bitt comprising a post-like metal structure having laterally extending horizontal flanges adapted to be bolted to the deck and laterally extending vertical flanges adapted to be bolted to the rail whereby the hilt serves as a reinforcing support for the rail, and a Windlass carried by the bitt, said Windlass having an axle extending into the bot y portion of the hilt and toward the rail.

9. A bitt comprising an integral metal post-like structure, With integral laterally extending vertical flanges and integral laterally extending horizontal flanges adapted to be secured to the rail and deck respectively, the lower part of said bitt having a vertically extending opening, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a Windlass journaled in said journal blocks.

10. A bitt comprising an integral metal post-like structure, with integral laterally extending vertical flanges and integral laterally extending horizontal flanges adapted to be secured to the rail and deck respectively,

the lower part of said bitt having a vertically extending opening, journal block secured in said opening to one Side thereof and a Windlass journaled in said journal blocks, said journal blocks being removable and adapted to be secured to either side of said opening.

11. A bitt comprising an integral metal post-like structure, with integral laterally extending vertical flanges and integral laterally extending horizontal fianges adapted to be secured to the rail and deck respectively, the lower part of said bitt having a vertically extending opening, journal blocks secured in said opening to one side thereof and a Windlass journaled in said journal blocks, said journal blocks being removable and adapted to be secured to either side of said opening, said Windlass having a drum With ratchet teeth and a lever and pawl for operating the same, and a locking dog for the Windlass pivoted on the body portion of the bitt, said dog being removable and adapted to be pivotally mounted in different positions dependent on Which position the Windlass is journaled in.

12. A bitt comprising a post-like metal structure having a Windlass j ournaled on the inside of the bitt and means for securing the same directly to the deck and directly to the rail whereby the bitt serves as a reinforcing support for the rail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES KULMAN. 

